Load control system for standard electric utility meter

ABSTRACT

An automatic load control system for electric utility meters which includes an electric meter monitoring device which converts meter wheel revolutions into electronic digital pulses representing a known quantity of power consumption and a digital circuit which determines meter pulse rate or electric power demand and generates load control commands when predetermined demand levels are exceeded. Commands are transmitted from the monitoring device to a remote load control point by a data link to deactivate specific loads during periods of peak demand. Commands are also transmitted to selected remote locations for the purpose of switching indicator lights and alarms in order to display demand status to the power consumer.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application relates to generally similar subject matter disclosed in my co-pending application, Ser. No. 123,216, for Electric Meter Consumption Communicator concurrently filed herewith.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

This invention relates generally to a system which monitors data generated by an electric utility meter representing electrical power demand and is effective to generate commands to temporarily shut off predetermined electrical loads during peak demand periods. This invention provides a programmable means of limiting peak demand along with biofeedback indicators displaying the demand state directly to the electric power consumer.

2. Description of Prior Art

For energy conservation and potential reduction in consumer utility bills, many techniques have been proposed for automatically limiting peak demands for electrical power. Power demand exceeding the baseline generating capacity of a typical electric utility company requires utilization of inefficient peaking generators. Power demand falling below baseline capacity results in inefficient usage of generated power. Load control techniques provide a potential solution, smoothing the power demand curve to more efficiently match baseline generating capacity.

Well-known technology presently exists affording control of desired loads for peak demand smoothing and some techniques have been implemented primarily for industrial customers. However, the prior art has yet to solve efficiently the problems of reliable demand monitoring and control cable installation in a manner acceptable to residential customers. Prior art systems include two general categories: centralized control systems, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,909,821 and decentralized or local control systems, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,147,978. Central control systems monitor total demand at the generating facility. When a peak demand is anticipated, load control commands are generated and communicated to individually metered loads in order to deactivate all the predetermined loads (e.g., hot water heaters), in a general area. Although such an approach has technical merit, the primary disadvantage resides in a lack of consumer acceptance and high unit cost. The high cost of centralized systems affected by the cost of communicating load control commands to individual loads has precluded a large scale implementation.

Local control systems must monitor power demand at the actual point of use, generate load commands when local demand peaks are detected, communicate the commands to the specific point of control and deactivate the desired load. Prior art systems typically monitor demand at the electric meter with a loop current probe which generates an analog signal proportional to the electric current flow. When the analog value reaches a predetermined threshold indicating a peak demand, load control command is generated and communicated to the control point either at the circuit breaker box or at the load by means of communication control cables. Although such systems are significantly more economical than centralized systems, local load control systems suffer from the disadvantage of poor accuracy inherent in low cost analog systems and high installation cost required for extending communication control cables to the point of control. In the case of some residential applications, installing cables through existing structures is not only cost prohibitive, but precludes consumer acceptance. Although automatic load control shows the potential for a vast contribution toward energy conservation, no single technique has been accepted for application on a large scale.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore a primary object of this invention to provide a low cost approach to load control and power demand limiting which avoids the installation of hardwire control cables and overcomes the aforementioned and other disadvantages and limitations.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a highly reliable and accurate digital technique for local demand monitoring and load command generation.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide optional command communication techniques including audio links, electro-optical links, radio frequency links and/or existing power line links which eliminate the requirement for the installation of communication control cables.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide for load command receivers and switching units for each type of communication link providing for flexibility in installation and consumer acceptance.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide consumer indicator lights using the aforementioned communication techniques to display an indication of demand state at a convenient location.

It is a still further object of the present invention to overcome the technical limitations of prior art and specifically to provide a cost effective load control system incorporating highly accurate digital demand monitoring, data links for communicating load commands, and biofeedback indicators of demand state.

According to the present invention, the foregoing and other objects are attained by providing an electro-optical meter wheel scanner device for generating digital pulses which represent known measures of electric power consumption, a digital circuit which determines the digital pulse rate or the power demand state and generates load commands, data links for communicating load commands and a command receiver means for switching specific loads on and off.

The system according to the present invention utilizes a light emitter/detector pair mounted inside any standard electric meter to generate digital pulses proportional to the number of meter wheel revolutions. A digital circuit compares meter pulses to a time reference based on the power line frequency in order to determine demand. Upon detection of demand levels exceeding a predetermined digital value, a load control command is generated. Depending upon the particular geometry of a specific application, the load command is either coupled onto existing power lines in an established residence or are modulated onto audio, electro-optical or radio frequency carriers for through-the-air transmission to specific control points. An appropriate receiver at the control point detects the command and temporarily switches the load to a deactivated state for the duration of a demand peak. An identical technique is incorporated to transmit demand state signals from the meter to control indicator lights located at a convenient position so that the consumer can monitor his own demand.

It is therefore an aspect of the present invention to provide an automatic load control system for an electric utility meter connected to a primary power source comprising a first arrangement to convert the primary power available from the utility meter into digital timing pulses and a source of secondary power for load control subsystems. A second arrangement powered by the secondary power monitors primary power consumption and generates a plurality of digital meter pulses with each pulse representing a predetermined quantity of primary power consumed. A third arrangement comprising a digital logic circuit, accepts the digital timing pulses and the digital meter pulses as inputs, determines the meter pulse rate, compares the pulse rate to a pre-set digital threshold, and generates a load control command when the threshold is exceeded. A fourth arrangement comprises a data link which transmits the load control commands to a remote control point without requiring installation of communication/control cables. Finally, the system includes a fifth arrangement comprising switching units located at the remote control point. This arrangement responds to the load control commands transmitted over the data link and provides preselected switching functions.

Another aspect of the present invention resides in providing a system for limiting the rate of consumption of electricity in a circuit having a plurality of subcircuits and being measured by a utility meter, comprising a first arrangement which provides non-contact meter sensing, generates digital pulses in a proportional relationship to the quantity of electronic current flow and ascertains the rate of electricity consumption. A second arrangement comprises a data link which monitors the consumption rate and, when the rate exceeds a predetermined level, transmits a command signal to a control station and receives the transmitted command at the control station. A third arrangement comprising a load controller responds to commands from the data link and controls the flow of electric power to one or more of the subcircuits.

For a better understanding of the present invention, together with other and further objects thereof, reference is had to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a system block diagram illustrating the load control system in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of the system power supply providing power for the digital circuitry and the transmitter;

FIGS. 3A and 3B show a schematic representation of the meter wheel scanner showing the two primary configurations for monitoring meter movements;

FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of digital circuitry for monitoring meter pulse rate and generates load control commands;

FIGS. 5A and 5B show a block diagram illustrating oscillator encoding techniques for modulating load commands on the carrier; and

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating communication techniques for transmitting load commands to the switching point.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to FIG. 1, the load control system for electric utility meters of the present invention comprises several major subsystems including a power supply 20, a meter scanner 33, a load control circuitry 41, a load command transmitter 140, and a load command receiver 90. Each subsystem excluding the receiver 90 is constructed to be placed within the conventional confines of standard electrical watt hour meter 10. The digital load command 60 is transmitted utilizing selectively one of four transmitting media. The power supply 20, FIG. 1, converts an alternating current (AC) power 12 (typically 240 v AC, 60 Hz) available in the meter 10 to two direct current (DC) outputs V1 25, V2 32 and to a fullwave rectified 120 Hz timing signal 21. The DC outputs V1 25, V2 32 power the digital circuitry 41 and the load command transmitter 140 respectively. The 120 Hz signal 21 is used as a time reference by the digital circuitry 41 for timing meter pulse 41 rate. The meter scanner 33 incorporates a light emitter 35/detector 37 pair to monitor the meter wheel 11 and to produce discrete digital pulses 40 representing either full or half meter wheel revolutions. Meter pulses 40 are input to the load control digital circuitry 41 which determines if the pulse rate is above or below a preprogrammed digital value or threshold. A pulse rate above threshold generates a load control command 60 which activates the command transmitter 140. The "off" command signal is transmitted over one of four carriers 66, 67, 68, and 69. A load control receiver 90 recognizes the transmitted signal and either energizes a load switching unit deactivating the load switch 100 or switches demand indicator lights 101. After the digital circuitry 41 senses a meter pulse rate below threshold for a preprogrammed period of time, the "on" command is transmitted allowing the load control switch unit 100 to be reactivated and indicator lights 101 to be switched.

POWER SUPPLY

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown a load control power supply 20 having as its input an AC power source 12, typically 240 volts AC at 60 Hz, available within conventional electric meter 10. The input is applied to the primary coils 130 of a transformer 133 having two secondary coils 131, 132, providing different voltage levels typically required for the load command transmitter 140 and the digital circuitry 41. The voltage present on one secondary coil 131 is rectified by a standard diode bridge D1 22 and is filtered by capacitor C1 23 in conjunction with a standard voltage regulator 24 to provide DC transmitter power V1 25. The output of the other secondary coil 132 is rectified by a fullwave rectifier bridge D2 26 providing a positive half sine wave signal at a frequency of 120 Hz, or double the power line frequency. Two resistors R1 27 and R2 28 are used as a voltage divider to provide a 120 Hz signal level 21 which is compatible with the digital electronics logic levels. The rectifier D2 26 output current passes through diode D3 29 and is filtered by capacitor C2 30 in conjunction with voltage regulator 31 to provide a source of DC power V2 32 for the digital electronics circuitry.

METER WHEEL SCANNER

The meter wheel scanner 33 is hereafter described in reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B. Essentially, every standard electric watt hour meter 10 includes an eddy current disk or meter wheel 11 which revolves at a rate proportional to current throughput. Therefore, each disk revolution or half revolution represents a specific quantity of metered power consumption. Anti-creep holes 13 in the disk 11 are also typical of standard electrical meters, since they are required to preclude disk revolution during power outages. The meter wheel scanner electro-optically monitors the passage of each hole 13 to produce the necessary meter pulses 40 in a manner similar to the device shown in FIG. 5A of U.S. Pat. No. 4,119,948 issued to the present applicant as co-inventor. The scanner 33 includes a light emitting device 35 and a light detecting device 37. The emitting circuit comprises a current limiting resistor R1 34 in series with a light emitting diode (LED) 35 powered by supply voltage V2 32. The LED 35 emits a light 36 (typically 940 nanometers in wavelength) continuously. The detector circuit comprises an integrated detector diode/amplifier DET 37. A typical component of this type if the Feranti ZNP103 which combines a detector and an amplifier in a standard TO5 component package. The integrated detector 37 is coupled to an external resistor R2 39 and capacitor C1 38 whose values determine the sensitivity of the detector 37. The detector circuit is also powered by supply voltage V2 32. The emitter and detector circuits are physically arranged to allow either transmissive detection, see FIG. 3A, or reflective detection, see FIG. 3B, of the anti-creep holes 13 in the disk 11. In either mode, the light input to the detector 37 is filtered with an optical band pass filter 14 whose center wavelength is that of the LED 35. In the reflective mode, the scanner 33 can also detect the passage of either reflective of absorptive radial stripes (not shown) on the disk. In the preferred embodiment, however, in the transmissive mode the emitter and detector components are positioned on opposite sides of the disk 11, so that passage of anti-creep holes 13 will allow light 36 from the emitter circuit to be transmitted to the detector circuit through the optical filter 14. In the reflective mode, the emitter and detector components are positioned on the same side of the disk 11 so that reflected light 36 is detected through optical filter 14 except when the anti-creep hole 13 passes through the emitted beam 36. In either case, the detector circuit generates either a positive or negative logic digital pulse 40 for each hole 13 passage which represents a quantum measure of metered power consumption.

LOAD CONTROL CIRCUIT

The load control circuit 41 is a digital circuit which continuously monitors the rate of incoming meter pulses 40 to determine demand state which represents the rate at which electrical power is consumed in order to automatically generate digital load commands 60. The circuit 41 comprises standard integrated circuit components and can be implemented either with discrete integrated circuits, with a single medium scale integrated circuit or with a microprocessor. The timing signal 21 extracted from the power supply 20 passes through the digital inverter 43 which shapes the signal for improved compatibility with the digital circuitry. The 120 Hz digital output from the inverter 43 is input to a 14 stage ripple counter 44 with a maximum frequency dividing capability of divide by 16,384. The 2¹¹ or divide by 2,048 output 45 is used as a time base reference. This output oscillates at one cycle per 17.1 seconds. The 2¹¹ output 45 and the 2⁴ output 46 are used in conjunction with a standard RS bistable multi-vibrator 47 in order to generate a preset load command 49 for a four bit binary counter 42. This counter 42 counts meter pulses 40 to a maximum of sixteen pulses prior to recycling. A thumbwheel binary coded decimal (BCD) switch 50 is used to preset the counter each time the load signal 49 is received. Since the counter 42 is preset every 17.1 seconds, the count at the end of each period represents the total number of meter pulses 40 received plus the preset, a measure of the actual demand. In this manner, the counter 42 is programmed for the desired demand threshold to count any discrete number of meter pulses 40 between six and sixteen pulses prior to recycling. The carry or overflow output 52 of the counter 42 which is generated upon recycling is used as the basis for the load control command. The pulse output 52 is passed through inverter 53 and coupled by cable 54 to the "set" input of an RS bistable multi-vibrator 59. When the multi-vibrator goes to its "set" state, the "Q" output 60 goes from a logic zero state to a logic one state representing a deactivate load command. A second binary counter 55 is used to monitor the total time after the last high demand state was detected. The overflow signal 52 generated by counter 42 is coupled to the "clear" input of counter 55, so that the stored value in counter 55 will be set to zero each time a load command is generated. The input to counter 55 is the 1/17.1 second pulse generated in counter 44. Therefore, counter 55 counts the total 17.1 second periods after each high demand state is detected. When the counter 44 attains the maximum value of 16 pulses or 4.6 minutes, it generates an overflow or carry signal 56 which is passed through inverter 57 and used to reset the multi-vibrator 59 causing the "Q" output to switch from a logic one state to a logic zero state representing an activate load command.

Although the preferred embodiment of the load control circuit 41 is described, it will be obvious to one skilled in the art that additional counter and circuitry can be added to generate load control or indicator commands on any intermediate level of demand or to redefine the demand level or demand period. Due to its simplicity and therefore, low cost, the circuit 41 described represents the preferred embodiment for most applications.

LOAD COMMAND COMMUNICATION LINKS

The function of the present invention is not only to generate load control commands but to transmit commands to the point of switching either indicator lights or controlled loads without the necessity for running control cables. The load control commands 60 generated in the load control circuitry 41 are transmitted by any one of four means which serve this purpose as seen in FIG. 6 including a power line carrier means 66, similar to systems disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,733,586, 3,719,928, and 3,815,119; ultra-sonic means 67 and radio frequency means 69 similar to systems disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,656,112; and electro-optical means 68 similar to systems disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,119,948. Although a vast number of techniques exist for encoding and decoding information transmitted on each type of carrier, simple, low cost oscillator encoding, discriminating filter decoding techniques are described in the preferred embodiment.

The selective coding of load control commands is necessary especially in residential applications where two or more residences may be located in near proximity. In order to prevent a load control command generated at one metered residence from controlling loads or indicators located in an adjacent residence, each residence in near proximity must be assigned a specific control link code. Oscillator encoding seen in reference to FIG. 5 is defined herein as selective frequency coding of load control commands which can take either of two forms: analog frequency coding or digital frequency shift keying.

With reference to FIG. 5, analog frequency encoding converts the digital load command 60 to an assigned frequency signal to be modulated onto a carrier for load command transmission. Load command 60 directly activates oscillator 105 which outputs a signal 106 which oscillates at frequency F₀. Signal 106 is modulated onto carrier 66, 67, 68, or 69 by transmitter 107. The transmitted signal is reconstructed by receiver 108 to a signal 109 at frequency F_(O). The signal 109 is passed by an electronic band pass discriminating filter 110 and regenerated into the form of the original load command 111 which is used for directly switching loads and/or indicators.

With further reference to FIG. 5, digital frequency encoding provides a more reliable means of coding load control commands. In this construction, load command 60 directly activates a digital encoder 112 which is designed to generate a specific digital word 113 in the form of a serial bit pattern. A digital word 113 directly activates a standard frequency shift keying (FSK) modulator 114. The FSK modulator 114 converts the input digital "one" bits to output frequency F₁ and input digital "zero" bits to output frequency F₂. The serial stream F₁ and F₂ signals representing the digital word to be transmitted make up the FSK signal 115 which is modulated onto a carrier 66, 67, 68, or 69 by transmitter 116. The FSK signal 118 is reconstructed by receiver 117 and input to FSK demodulator 119. The FSK demodulator reconstructs the serial digital word 120 which is input to a digital decoder 121. The digital decoder 121 is designed to recognize the specific digital word 120 and, therefore, regenerate the original load command 122 which is used to directly switch loads and indicator lights.

In order to provide the most cost effective load control system for the many various geometries encountered for decentralized load control in residences, industrial buildings, and commercial sites, four types of data links are provided in this invention. Each type of data link provides a low cost means for communicating load control commands over a short distance to the point of control. The preferred type of data link is strictly a function of the geometry and the environment encountered in each individual application. The four types of data links included are power line carrier, ultrasonic carrier, electro-optical carrier and radio-frequency carrier. It is anticipated that the power line carrier data link will be the preferred embodiment for the majority of applications.

POWER LINE CARRIER

As seen in FIG. 6, the load command signal 60 generated within the meter 10 energizes an encoder 62 providing a coded signal which is induced on a coil 61 which loops around a primary power line 66. In this manner, a coded signal is induced on power line 66 and is distributed throughout the residence or metered building and is available at any existing power plug. A receiver module 90 along with its own power supply is simply plugged into any available power plug. The load switching unit 100 and/or indicator lights 101 are plugged into the receiver module 90. The receiver module 90 has two functions. First, a coil 70 looped around the primary power line 66 is effective to sense the coded signal when a load command 60 is present. The detected signal is recognized by a decoder unit 91 to generate a load or indicator switch command 93. The switch command 93 activates a switch either solid state or relay type which controls either indicator lights 101 displaying demand state or desired loads which are connected to load switching unit 100. Loads under control are deactivated during the period a load control command 60 exists and reactivated when the load control command 60 is terminated.

ULTRASONIC CARRIER

The ultrasonic carrier system 67 is essentially identical to the system described for the power line carrier 66 with the exception of the carrier medium. Since most load control applications require very short range links from the electric meter to the point of control, an ultrasonic data link is made feasible. In this construction, the encoder 62 output is induced onto a standard high frequency speaker 63 having transducers (not shown), which generate sound waves at corresponding frequencies. When a load command 60 is generated, ultrasonic waves 67 travel through the air at the speed of sound to a receiver 71 consisting of a high frequency microphone which converts the ultrasonic waves back into corresponding electronic signals. Identical circuitry provides for signal decoding and load/indicator switching as previously described.

ELECTRO-OPTICAL CARRIER

The electro-optical carrier system 68 is also essentially similar to those systems previously described except for the carrier medium. Where line of sight exists between the electric utility meter and the control point or intermediate repeater points, an electro-optical data link which transmits load control commands 60 through the glass meter cover 10 is made feasible. In this mode, the encoder 62 output is induced onto a DC current passing through a light emitting diode 64 or laser diode or other suitable optical transmitter to provide a modulated output beam 68. When a load command 60 exists, the modulated light beam 68 is transmitted to a photo detector 72 where the signal is converted to a corresponding electronic signal. Identical circuitry provides for signal decoding and load/indicator switching as previously described.

RADIO-FREQUENCY CARRIER

The radio-frequency carrier system 69 is also constructed similarly to the above described systems except for carrier medium. Since most load control applications require very short range command transmission from the meter 10 to the switching point 90, a low power radio frequency data link is then made feasible. In this case, the encoder 62 output is induced onto a radio-frequency antenna 65 which radiates radio waves 69 at the same frequency. When a load command 60 exists, radio waves 69 are transmitted to a receiver antenna 73 which converts the electro-magnetic radiation back into electronic signals. Identical circuitry provides for decoding and load/indicator switching.

While there have been described what are at present considered to be the preferred embodiments of this invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention and it is aimed, therefore, in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An automatic load control system for electric utility meter connected to a primary power source, comprising, in combination:first means to convert the primary power available from said utility meter into digital timing pulses and a source of secondary power for load control subsystems; second means deriving power from said secondary source and effective to monitor primary power consumption and to generate a plurality of digital meter pulses with each pulse representing a predetermined quantity of said primary electric power consumed; third means comprising a digital circuit accepting said timing pulses and secondary power from said first means and digital meter pulses from said second means effective to determine a digital measure of the rate at which meter pulses are generated and on comparison of said digital measure to a pre-set digital threshold to generate a digital load control command signal when said threshold is exceeded, said signal having a preselected frequency code; fourth means comprising wireless data carrier link transmitter effective to transmit said load command signal generated by said third means to a remote control point; and, fifth means comprising a wireless receiver having one or more switching units located at said remote control point responsive to the frequency code of said load commands transmitted over said data link of said fourth means to provide one or more preselected switching functions.
 2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said third means includes digital circuitry effective to divide the frequency of said timing pulses to an output at a rate of one pulse every 17.1 seconds.
 3. A system according to claim 1, wherein said third means includes digital circuitry effective to count said digital meter pulses and to generate digital output whenever a total count of sixteen is attained.
 4. A system according to claim 3, wherein said count is preset to a preprogrammed value every 17.1 seconds.
 5. A system according to claim 4, wherein said preprogrammed value is selected by a thumbwheel binary coded decimal switch.
 6. A system according to claim 3, wherein said digital output is effective to trigger a load control bistable multi-vibrator providing a load control command.
 7. A system according to claim 2, wherein said count is reset to zero every time said load control command is generated.
 8. A system according to claim 6, wherein said digital output is effective to reset said load control bistable multi-vibrator to terminate said load control command.
 9. A system according to claim 1, wherein said fourth means comprises an ultrasonic data link, which is effective to transmit load commands to a remote point by means of ultrasonic waves.
 10. A system according to claim 1, wherein said fourth means comprises an electro-optical data link which is effective to transmit load commands to a remote point by means of light waves.
 11. A system according to claim 1, wherein said fourth means comprises a radio frequency data link which is effective to transmit load commands to a remote point by means of radio waves.
 12. A system according to claim 1, wherein said coded signals are processed by a frequency shift keying demodulator and digital decoder effective to reconstruct said digital load command.
 13. A system according to claim 1, wherein said fifth means is effective to switch indicator lights to display demand state.
 14. A system according to claim 1, wherein said third means includes an analog frequency encoder converting the digital load command signal into a coded signal and a connecting oscillator outputs the signal at said predetermined frequency; said fourth means includes a transmitter modulating the command signal onto said carrier link; and said receiver includes a discriminating filter for reconstructing said signals.
 15. A system according to claim 1, wherein said third means includes a digital frequency encoder and a corresponding frequency keying oscillator modulating the command signal onto said carrier link; and said receiver includes a demodulator and an input digital decoder effective to recognize only the predetermined signal. 